This is difficult, as it should be I know. The Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre constitutes evil of unfathomable depth - a place so dark, I don't want to fathom its reality. Particularly, I have no interest in examining the life of this crazed murderer so that we all can be made to feel guilty because society treated him poorly such that his self esteem was undermined. Instead, my focus is and will remain fixed on how we prevent these obvious Nut Jobs from getting their hands on firearms.
Now, please understand me, so my self esteem is not diminished. While I have never owned a gun myself, I do support the Second Amendment because individual freedom dictates that we the people have the right to effective self-defense against criminals who will always have easy access to illegal weapons. What our nation needs to address is not criminal violence, but this spreading terror of the lone wolf madman blazing his way into eternity.
One sensible societal response to this growing menace is to require a rigorous firearms training program for first time gun permit applicants which will include a psych evaluation for any single white male under the age of 30. Call it racist, call it racial profiling, I just don't care, and refuse to ignore the obvious pattern here. When Columbine, Aurora and now Newtown all involve young disaffected white males, I see a rational need for extra scrutiny for that category of individual who has engaged in the rage of mass murder. Just as the airport screeners for political correctness hassle everyone, including granny and little children, so the true terrorists are able to get on planes with explosive underpants, gun sales to young white Americans need not be banned, but for the children's sake ought to be limited to those individuals who are rational and not dead men walking.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sunday Sliders, Straight Down the Middle
With the Fiscal Cliff fast approaching, the political leadership is finally getting serious about making sure that the other party is blamed when this train wreck blows up; mixed metaphors used to reflect the surreal feel here. Accordingly, we turn to the real world for succor:
@In NYC, Mayor Bloomburg has proposed that all radio stations broadcasting Christmas Carols in the City do not play songs telling of Santa Claus delivering presents to children by coming down the dwelling's fireplace chimney, saying that boys and girls residing in chimney-less apartments are made to feel left out and inferior.
Susan Rice will be our next Secretary of State, as former Libyan Ambassador Stevens remains unavailable to fill this Cabinet post. Despite the murderers of our four American heroes remaining free to massacre innocents at will again, the political leadership in both parties remains obsessed with who edited Ms. Rice's Sunday Show's talking points, rather than America's obvious impotence in being unable to bring to Justice extremists when anti-video demonstrations get out of hand.
Accordingly, only three conclusions present themselves as believable: (1) the War for fiscal sanity is over, national solvency lost; (2) the War on Christmas is over, Christ lost; (3) The War on Terrorism is over, civilization lost.
Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all mankind!
@In NYC, Mayor Bloomburg has proposed that all radio stations broadcasting Christmas Carols in the City do not play songs telling of Santa Claus delivering presents to children by coming down the dwelling's fireplace chimney, saying that boys and girls residing in chimney-less apartments are made to feel left out and inferior.
Susan Rice will be our next Secretary of State, as former Libyan Ambassador Stevens remains unavailable to fill this Cabinet post. Despite the murderers of our four American heroes remaining free to massacre innocents at will again, the political leadership in both parties remains obsessed with who edited Ms. Rice's Sunday Show's talking points, rather than America's obvious impotence in being unable to bring to Justice extremists when anti-video demonstrations get out of hand.
Accordingly, only three conclusions present themselves as believable: (1) the War for fiscal sanity is over, national solvency lost; (2) the War on Christmas is over, Christ lost; (3) The War on Terrorism is over, civilization lost.
Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all mankind!
Friday, November 23, 2012
Why Susan Rice still doesn't Matter
... and Never will. Let me emphasize at the very outset that I believe that Ms. Rice is fully qualified to serve our great Nation as Secretary of State in the Second Obama Term. Why you ask? To answer this inquiry, we'll look at the qualifications of just one of her predecessors, her unrelated name sake, Condi Rice. (I'm not close to Condi, but use her nic name, as I can't spell Condelleiza - see!) Now, back to my comparison - as President Bush's National Security Advisor in 2001, Condi Rice was absolutely clueless about Osama Bin Laden and Al Quida's terrorist capabilities and intentions for a deadly assault on our country. Indeed, after the World Trade Center attack, Condi proclaimed that no one in the Administration, herself included, had envisioned the possibility of commercial airliners being used as weapons. Really? I guess that Professor Rice never heard of the WWII Pacific Theatre of combat in which hundreds of young Jap pilots, sincerely believing that committing suicide by flying their planes into our warships guaranteed them an eternity in Heaven, did so to great effect, but just one time each. Yet, despite this egregious admission of historic ignorance, Professor Rice went on to serve as a heralded Sec. of State in the Bush Second Term, credited with assembling the Coalition of the Willing to topple the Butcher of Bagdad.
So, what's my beef with Susan Rice, you again ask? Its the absence of beef that I find blame worthy. Where was the intellectual integrity and rigorous preparation for her appearance on all five Sunday News shows in which she spoke to the entire nation about a spontaneous demonstration that was followed-up by "opportunist extremists" attacking the Benghazi consulate and CIA Annex a mile distant. Of course, that narrative was false. Were Ms. Rice to have asked anyone these questions, President Obama included: who observed this demonstration at the consulate, asked to see the photographs thereof, asked to read the cables from the State Department officials in Benghazi describing the demonstration, she would have been informed that none of these items ever existed, because no demonstrators ever existed in Benghazi. Therefore, it's obvious that Ms. Rice merely towed the party line, which is the one essential qualification to be a valuable and heralded Secretary of State in any Administration.
In previous blog Posts, I have postulated that any former President, except Jimmy Carter, would have fired, as soon as informed of the names of his subordinates, those Administration officials responsible for the DOJ criminal gun running to Mexico's drug cartels. Similarly, what President allows his subordinates to put out a false narrative of a non-existent demonstration, when our Intelligence Community spends hundreds of billions of dollars a year to know the actual facts on the ground? That level of incompetence would be a firing offense for the Director of the CIA on Day One had the President actually have been so misinformed. He wasn't.
Accordingly, all the machinations of the Republicans on Fox News whining about who in the White House changed the CIA talking points by deleting the references to terrorists and substituting "extremists" are as clueless as Condi Rice. Forget the semantics, there are three unforgivable scandals here, none of which involve wordsmithing: (1) allowing our Ambassador to go into a terrorist controlled area unprotected on the deadliest terrorist day of each year - 9/11; (2) not sending military forces to his rescue for over seventeen hours; and (3) to this very day, months later, having brought not one terrorist, nor even a single street demonstrator, to justice for these heinous murders. I find Susan Rice to be uniquely qualified to be a major figurine in such an accomplished Administration.
So, what's my beef with Susan Rice, you again ask? Its the absence of beef that I find blame worthy. Where was the intellectual integrity and rigorous preparation for her appearance on all five Sunday News shows in which she spoke to the entire nation about a spontaneous demonstration that was followed-up by "opportunist extremists" attacking the Benghazi consulate and CIA Annex a mile distant. Of course, that narrative was false. Were Ms. Rice to have asked anyone these questions, President Obama included: who observed this demonstration at the consulate, asked to see the photographs thereof, asked to read the cables from the State Department officials in Benghazi describing the demonstration, she would have been informed that none of these items ever existed, because no demonstrators ever existed in Benghazi. Therefore, it's obvious that Ms. Rice merely towed the party line, which is the one essential qualification to be a valuable and heralded Secretary of State in any Administration.
In previous blog Posts, I have postulated that any former President, except Jimmy Carter, would have fired, as soon as informed of the names of his subordinates, those Administration officials responsible for the DOJ criminal gun running to Mexico's drug cartels. Similarly, what President allows his subordinates to put out a false narrative of a non-existent demonstration, when our Intelligence Community spends hundreds of billions of dollars a year to know the actual facts on the ground? That level of incompetence would be a firing offense for the Director of the CIA on Day One had the President actually have been so misinformed. He wasn't.
Accordingly, all the machinations of the Republicans on Fox News whining about who in the White House changed the CIA talking points by deleting the references to terrorists and substituting "extremists" are as clueless as Condi Rice. Forget the semantics, there are three unforgivable scandals here, none of which involve wordsmithing: (1) allowing our Ambassador to go into a terrorist controlled area unprotected on the deadliest terrorist day of each year - 9/11; (2) not sending military forces to his rescue for over seventeen hours; and (3) to this very day, months later, having brought not one terrorist, nor even a single street demonstrator, to justice for these heinous murders. I find Susan Rice to be uniquely qualified to be a major figurine in such an accomplished Administration.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Why Bill Plante Still Matters
The current national political discourse reminds me, not of Watergate, but of the Ronald Reagan Era Iran-Contra debacle. When, in the early days of President Reagan's second term, Attorney General Ed Meese took the podium in the White House Press Room, he announced to the utter disbelief of the assembled media reps that, without the knowledge or approval of the President, an obscure retired Marine, Oliver North, working for the National Security Council in the White House basement, had himself acquired and sold large quantities of anti-aircraft missiles to America's sworn enemy, Iran. Then, again by himself, Colonel North took the millions in his illegal gun running profits and gave it to armed rebels fighting a communist government in Central America.
When the Attorney General concluded his defense of President Reagan by emphasizing the "rogue" nature of this National Security Council operation over three continents involving tens of millions worth of military assets, dozens of Air Force cargo planes and cakes with keys, the WH Press Room erupted in outrage. One of the most angry Patriots demanding accountability from the President was the CBS Chief White House Correspondent, Bill Plante, who literally shouted at Meese: "If the President didn't know, then WHY DIDN'T HE? In 1980's America, the nation's media, indeed the entire national political establishment, unequivocally rejected the Sargeant Schultze: "I know Nothing" stance of Meese.
Thirty years later, first in the "Fast and Furious" DOJ gun running criminal conspiracy, and now with the Benghazi/Petraesis/Allen scandals, where is Bill Plante and the national clammer that our President know what his subordinates are doing when hundreds, if not thousands, of Mexican innocents, a American Ambassador and three American heroes are dead.
When the CIA Director is sleeping around, the General Officer running the Afghan war is spending more time e-mailing a woman not his wife than he is in the trenches, keeping these matters from the President - because neither rose to the level of a national security risk, is OK. WHAT? - the top national security official makes himself liable to blackmail by Iran, China, Russia, even France, and the media accepts Holder's nonsense that we didn't tell Obama because Pretraesis' dalliance was merely a personal indiscretion? That is a national disgrace. Now, I know that Bill Plante still is not dead. Therefore, I expect he and every American Patriot to demand better. The traditional America of accountability following responsibility must be preserved in the 21st Century.
When the Attorney General concluded his defense of President Reagan by emphasizing the "rogue" nature of this National Security Council operation over three continents involving tens of millions worth of military assets, dozens of Air Force cargo planes and cakes with keys, the WH Press Room erupted in outrage. One of the most angry Patriots demanding accountability from the President was the CBS Chief White House Correspondent, Bill Plante, who literally shouted at Meese: "If the President didn't know, then WHY DIDN'T HE? In 1980's America, the nation's media, indeed the entire national political establishment, unequivocally rejected the Sargeant Schultze: "I know Nothing" stance of Meese.
Thirty years later, first in the "Fast and Furious" DOJ gun running criminal conspiracy, and now with the Benghazi/Petraesis/Allen scandals, where is Bill Plante and the national clammer that our President know what his subordinates are doing when hundreds, if not thousands, of Mexican innocents, a American Ambassador and three American heroes are dead.
When the CIA Director is sleeping around, the General Officer running the Afghan war is spending more time e-mailing a woman not his wife than he is in the trenches, keeping these matters from the President - because neither rose to the level of a national security risk, is OK. WHAT? - the top national security official makes himself liable to blackmail by Iran, China, Russia, even France, and the media accepts Holder's nonsense that we didn't tell Obama because Pretraesis' dalliance was merely a personal indiscretion? That is a national disgrace. Now, I know that Bill Plante still is not dead. Therefore, I expect he and every American Patriot to demand better. The traditional America of accountability following responsibility must be preserved in the 21st Century.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Why Winston Churchill still Matters
As Does Ms. Charlene Lamb
Wow, This was definitely the Week that Was - we got to see all levels of government at work and play. First, Superstorm Sandy pummels the northeast Big Time. Governor Chris Christy, the "Insultinator", who other than John Sununu, gave us the best rips on President Obama's lack of leadership skills, this week kissed up to the President so big time that not only did he get a brown nose, his freikin head now looks like a over-sized Milk Dud. Go figure!
In NYC, Mayor Nanny-State, who sees the role of government to be to limit the public's right to drink soda in one large cup (while allowing consumers to purchase simultaneously a six pack or more of almost as large soda containers, so not real reduction in calorie intake, just additional expense and difficulty in carrying multiple cups) decided to ignore the well being of millions of New Yorkers - in jeopardy of starving and freezing to death in the dark - so he could watch some tens of thousands of runners jog around the City while police and utility assets catered to their needs. Go figure!
So you ask, where does Ms. Charlene Lamb fit into this morass of politicians acting stupidly? Squarely at the Apex of arrogant refusal to be honest, candid and truthful, regrettably.
As an Elite Member, you are knowledgeable big time, as well as being fully aware of my disdain for this Chief Executive, who will not hold subordinates accountable for their egregious mis-judgments that literally cause the deaths of innocents. So, when Ms. Lamb, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomat Security, told us all in sworn testimony before the Congress that the security assets in Benghazi were sufficient despite the murderous attack by dozens of terrorists armed with heavy weapons, including multiple mortars, she should have been shown the door immediately. Can you imagine the reactions of the American diplomats across the world upon hearing that a cerifiably insane woman is still in charge of guarding their very lives in the aftermath of Benghazi?
Hey, at least the Commander-in-Chief is consistent: he didn't fire anyone in his Administration after learning of the death of Brian Terry in the Fast & Furious scandal; hell, he didn't have the Army stop paying Major Hasan his full six figure salary after he murdered 14 fellow soldiers at Ft. Hood; so, it appears that Ms. Lamb's four bumps in the road of the Arab Spring, while not optimal, were not a big deal for her continued career of government service. Hell fire, I defy any Elite Member to name a single governmental official that this President has fired in his four years of executive government leadership.
Well, this Tuesday, November 6th, we the American people can prove Winston Churhill right by confirming that Democracy is the worst system of government, except for all the others, by voting to fire the current occuppant of 1600 Pennslyvania Avenue, and replace him with new tenants for the next four years. As citizens, we have a moral obligation to finally hold someone in the Obama Administration accountable for the last four years, and if not Charlene Lamb, then it should be Barry himself. Just vote.
Wow, This was definitely the Week that Was - we got to see all levels of government at work and play. First, Superstorm Sandy pummels the northeast Big Time. Governor Chris Christy, the "Insultinator", who other than John Sununu, gave us the best rips on President Obama's lack of leadership skills, this week kissed up to the President so big time that not only did he get a brown nose, his freikin head now looks like a over-sized Milk Dud. Go figure!
In NYC, Mayor Nanny-State, who sees the role of government to be to limit the public's right to drink soda in one large cup (while allowing consumers to purchase simultaneously a six pack or more of almost as large soda containers, so not real reduction in calorie intake, just additional expense and difficulty in carrying multiple cups) decided to ignore the well being of millions of New Yorkers - in jeopardy of starving and freezing to death in the dark - so he could watch some tens of thousands of runners jog around the City while police and utility assets catered to their needs. Go figure!
So you ask, where does Ms. Charlene Lamb fit into this morass of politicians acting stupidly? Squarely at the Apex of arrogant refusal to be honest, candid and truthful, regrettably.
As an Elite Member, you are knowledgeable big time, as well as being fully aware of my disdain for this Chief Executive, who will not hold subordinates accountable for their egregious mis-judgments that literally cause the deaths of innocents. So, when Ms. Lamb, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomat Security, told us all in sworn testimony before the Congress that the security assets in Benghazi were sufficient despite the murderous attack by dozens of terrorists armed with heavy weapons, including multiple mortars, she should have been shown the door immediately. Can you imagine the reactions of the American diplomats across the world upon hearing that a cerifiably insane woman is still in charge of guarding their very lives in the aftermath of Benghazi?
Hey, at least the Commander-in-Chief is consistent: he didn't fire anyone in his Administration after learning of the death of Brian Terry in the Fast & Furious scandal; hell, he didn't have the Army stop paying Major Hasan his full six figure salary after he murdered 14 fellow soldiers at Ft. Hood; so, it appears that Ms. Lamb's four bumps in the road of the Arab Spring, while not optimal, were not a big deal for her continued career of government service. Hell fire, I defy any Elite Member to name a single governmental official that this President has fired in his four years of executive government leadership.
Well, this Tuesday, November 6th, we the American people can prove Winston Churhill right by confirming that Democracy is the worst system of government, except for all the others, by voting to fire the current occuppant of 1600 Pennslyvania Avenue, and replace him with new tenants for the next four years. As citizens, we have a moral obligation to finally hold someone in the Obama Administration accountable for the last four years, and if not Charlene Lamb, then it should be Barry himself. Just vote.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Redlining the Constitution
In the first Debate, both President Obama and Governor Romney stated that the first obligation of the United States President, as Commander-in-Chief, is the preservation of the nation's security from foreign attacks. Well, yes and an emphatic no - the Constitution does indeed appoint the nation's President as Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, but reserves to the Congress the exclusive authority to unleash the "dogs of war". Only the Congress can authorize the President to don his CinC hat and direct the Army, Navy and Air Force in foreign combat that could lead to victory over the nation's enemy, or our destruction, should the President fail in the exercise of these most difficult executive responsibilities. Art. 1; Section 8.
This is not some arcane proposition relevant only to the "Dead Scholars Society", but absolutely timely to the conduct of the upcoming second debate on Foreign Policy, the election on November 6th, and the conduct of the 48th President in his first months in office, commencing January 2013. Everyone agrees that Iran - with its goal of the destruction of Israel, and the United States as well, in seeking to destroy the "Great Satan" so that the eternal reign of Allah world-wide can finally be established - constitutes an existential threat to our national security, should they give nuclear bombs to terrorists in suitcases, or even bigger packages. Accordingly, how the two candidates articulate their policy approaches to this national security challenge facing America should be topics one. two and three for this second debate.
To date, this political discussion over the last two years has been dominated by a disregard for the Constitutional limitations on Presidential power. Even our most staunch ally, Israel, with an identical commitment to the Rule of Law, demands that President Obama announce himself what bomb building stage Iran needs to achieve in order for the United States to unleash hell on Iran, and bomb that nation's territory. Senator Schummer of New York, who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, recently stated that upon his re-election, President Obama will be far more likely to attack Iran than would be a President Romney. Absolutely incredible - can anyone envision a sitting Senator announcing to our nation's deadly enemy that a future President will not fight to stop their bomb making, and doing so for no purpose other than partisan advantage in the upcoming election. Giving an enemy assurance of safety may not exactly constitute treason, as in giving "Aid and Comfort" to that enemy, but telling the Iranians that a President Romney will allow them to get a nuclear weapon should disqualify him for holding high office when he faces the electorate at his next election.
Senator Schummer's announcement that the decision to attack Iran's bomb making facilities is a act or power given solely to the nation's Chief Executive - without the concurrence of the people United States, acting through their elected Congress - is even more outrageous, indeed it is an impeachable offense for a Senator to abdicate this most crucial of Congressional powers. A nation of 300 million citizens can not Constitutionally be put on a path to possibly total destruction by going to War on the judgment of just one man, or some day, one woman. Exercising the Power of National Life or Death is the ultimate governmental responsibility, and for that very reason, our Constitution authorizes that decision is to be made only by all of us together through our elected representatives - obviously, when we all will literally have our skin the the game, we all get to decide whether to risk burning that skin to a cinder. Should America continue as a nation of laws, and not the rule of (a single) man, we must all demand that the Congress just do it job, whoever is elected our next President.
This is not some arcane proposition relevant only to the "Dead Scholars Society", but absolutely timely to the conduct of the upcoming second debate on Foreign Policy, the election on November 6th, and the conduct of the 48th President in his first months in office, commencing January 2013. Everyone agrees that Iran - with its goal of the destruction of Israel, and the United States as well, in seeking to destroy the "Great Satan" so that the eternal reign of Allah world-wide can finally be established - constitutes an existential threat to our national security, should they give nuclear bombs to terrorists in suitcases, or even bigger packages. Accordingly, how the two candidates articulate their policy approaches to this national security challenge facing America should be topics one. two and three for this second debate.
To date, this political discussion over the last two years has been dominated by a disregard for the Constitutional limitations on Presidential power. Even our most staunch ally, Israel, with an identical commitment to the Rule of Law, demands that President Obama announce himself what bomb building stage Iran needs to achieve in order for the United States to unleash hell on Iran, and bomb that nation's territory. Senator Schummer of New York, who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, recently stated that upon his re-election, President Obama will be far more likely to attack Iran than would be a President Romney. Absolutely incredible - can anyone envision a sitting Senator announcing to our nation's deadly enemy that a future President will not fight to stop their bomb making, and doing so for no purpose other than partisan advantage in the upcoming election. Giving an enemy assurance of safety may not exactly constitute treason, as in giving "Aid and Comfort" to that enemy, but telling the Iranians that a President Romney will allow them to get a nuclear weapon should disqualify him for holding high office when he faces the electorate at his next election.
Senator Schummer's announcement that the decision to attack Iran's bomb making facilities is a act or power given solely to the nation's Chief Executive - without the concurrence of the people United States, acting through their elected Congress - is even more outrageous, indeed it is an impeachable offense for a Senator to abdicate this most crucial of Congressional powers. A nation of 300 million citizens can not Constitutionally be put on a path to possibly total destruction by going to War on the judgment of just one man, or some day, one woman. Exercising the Power of National Life or Death is the ultimate governmental responsibility, and for that very reason, our Constitution authorizes that decision is to be made only by all of us together through our elected representatives - obviously, when we all will literally have our skin the the game, we all get to decide whether to risk burning that skin to a cinder. Should America continue as a nation of laws, and not the rule of (a single) man, we must all demand that the Congress just do it job, whoever is elected our next President.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Obama: Too Weak in the Middle East?
Come on now! Forget about it. Anybody getting to the top of the heap in Chicago, ain't no panty-waist, unwilling to step over a few bodies he himself made waste to in making his bones. Seeing this rather obvious fact, one must ponder why the national political debate since the massacre in Bengazzi has focused exclusively on the purported bow and apologize reconciliation policy of the Obama Administration toward the world's 2.5 billion muslims. Too easy a target, I guess.
Ok, having declared the entire Republican establishment wrong, it is thus my responsibility to illuminate the real reasons these adherents to the Religion of Love are attacking our embassies across three separate continents. Fortunately, after re-reading a goodly number of my previous blogs, I am up to the task at hand.
Its the Drones, stupid. This Administration has finally initiated a viable policy to close Gitmo - release the current detainees (or move them to civilian jail in NYC), while killing every found terrorist identified world-wide, so no jihadist is captured, thereby obviating the need for prisoner detention. This "Death from the Sky" extermination program has its merits, most assuredly in the total absence of risk to the American fighting forces. Nonetheless. these surgical strikes have come up a cropper in winning the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. Why? You ask? Let me enumerate the reasons: (1) a U.S. soldier on the battlefield fires a bullet into his target's body causing a single enemy combatant fatality; a drone wipes out the targeted enemy combatant, as well as everyone else in the rather extensive kill zone. Collateral damage sounds almost benign, it is not however well received by the family, friends and neighbors of the innocents blown to Vallhala, sans their entitlement to the 70 virgins because they did not die themselves blowing up infidels through setting off their own suicide bomb vests.
Muslim cultural resentment to our drone program capacity to kill without risk to ourselves cannot be overstated. It is so pervasive that I will skip going over reasons 2 through 10, and instead sum up with the observation that any Administration which has chosen to Kill at Will, to Slaughter dozens of guilty and innocent together. that did not anticipate mass violence against Americans where we are found within range of their rage - our embassies and consulates - took the stupid shot, as the stupid pill was just too slow. Surely, therefore, we desperately need a real national debate on the pros and cons of stealth killing from 20,000 feet - no weakness in understanding the consequences of following the Chicago Way.
Ok, having declared the entire Republican establishment wrong, it is thus my responsibility to illuminate the real reasons these adherents to the Religion of Love are attacking our embassies across three separate continents. Fortunately, after re-reading a goodly number of my previous blogs, I am up to the task at hand.
Its the Drones, stupid. This Administration has finally initiated a viable policy to close Gitmo - release the current detainees (or move them to civilian jail in NYC), while killing every found terrorist identified world-wide, so no jihadist is captured, thereby obviating the need for prisoner detention. This "Death from the Sky" extermination program has its merits, most assuredly in the total absence of risk to the American fighting forces. Nonetheless. these surgical strikes have come up a cropper in winning the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. Why? You ask? Let me enumerate the reasons: (1) a U.S. soldier on the battlefield fires a bullet into his target's body causing a single enemy combatant fatality; a drone wipes out the targeted enemy combatant, as well as everyone else in the rather extensive kill zone. Collateral damage sounds almost benign, it is not however well received by the family, friends and neighbors of the innocents blown to Vallhala, sans their entitlement to the 70 virgins because they did not die themselves blowing up infidels through setting off their own suicide bomb vests.
Muslim cultural resentment to our drone program capacity to kill without risk to ourselves cannot be overstated. It is so pervasive that I will skip going over reasons 2 through 10, and instead sum up with the observation that any Administration which has chosen to Kill at Will, to Slaughter dozens of guilty and innocent together. that did not anticipate mass violence against Americans where we are found within range of their rage - our embassies and consulates - took the stupid shot, as the stupid pill was just too slow. Surely, therefore, we desperately need a real national debate on the pros and cons of stealth killing from 20,000 feet - no weakness in understanding the consequences of following the Chicago Way.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Why Major Hasan still Matters
Recently, President Obama told a TV interviewer that his job as President was more than just getting the national policy choices right. His overarching duty, he explained, is to tell the American people a story, to be inspirational, so that as a united country, going through difficult economic times, we will ban together, be optimistic and confident that indeed tomoorow will be better than today. And for once, the President and I are in complete agreement. Americans deeply want and need to see our President knowledgeable and concerned about important issues that affect our daily lives, in both specific objective ways - high gas prices - and in more symbolic ways - three plus years and no trial or even any accountabily for the Fort Hood jihadist murderer, and the President remains totally uninvolved in this open wound, bleeding away the spirit of patriotic Americans wondering why the Major continues to this day to be paid his full Army salary while flaunting daily his continuing violent, murderous hatred of us all.
Here is a President, so powerful, so concerned about injustice and unfairness, that with the simple stroke of a pen, he nullifies a one hundred year old federal statute, thereby granting amnesty to more than one million illegal aliens who are in-country and below the age of 30 years old. Such a sweeping and bold executive action reflects a real and strong commitment by this President to make the nation more just and compassionate.
Is it, therefore, too much to ask this same President to direct his Army subordinates to dishonorably discharge Major Hasan, and have his murder trial begin in his (and our) lifetime?
That not so bold or sweeping exective action would demonstrate the President's commitment to our military families, and the entire nation as he attacked us all in 2009, who suffer each and every day thinking about this disgraceful miscarriage of justice, with Major Hasan remaining on acitve duty status, while his injured victims in some cases have been declared unfit for duty in our armed forces and mustered out to fend for themselves at the local VA office.
I cannot count on one hand, even my left one, how many speeches the President and the First Lady have given before military family audiences, thanking these patriots for their service to our nation, and how in recognition of their many and great sacrifices for our safety and freedom, the President will never abandon or stop working for the causes of military family welfare. Well, guess what Mr. President, I suggest you stop these self aggrandising speeches for as long as it takes for you to sign an Executive Order giving Major Hasan the boot from his six figure annual taxpayer salary.
Here is a President, so powerful, so concerned about injustice and unfairness, that with the simple stroke of a pen, he nullifies a one hundred year old federal statute, thereby granting amnesty to more than one million illegal aliens who are in-country and below the age of 30 years old. Such a sweeping and bold executive action reflects a real and strong commitment by this President to make the nation more just and compassionate.
Is it, therefore, too much to ask this same President to direct his Army subordinates to dishonorably discharge Major Hasan, and have his murder trial begin in his (and our) lifetime?
That not so bold or sweeping exective action would demonstrate the President's commitment to our military families, and the entire nation as he attacked us all in 2009, who suffer each and every day thinking about this disgraceful miscarriage of justice, with Major Hasan remaining on acitve duty status, while his injured victims in some cases have been declared unfit for duty in our armed forces and mustered out to fend for themselves at the local VA office.
I cannot count on one hand, even my left one, how many speeches the President and the First Lady have given before military family audiences, thanking these patriots for their service to our nation, and how in recognition of their many and great sacrifices for our safety and freedom, the President will never abandon or stop working for the causes of military family welfare. Well, guess what Mr. President, I suggest you stop these self aggrandising speeches for as long as it takes for you to sign an Executive Order giving Major Hasan the boot from his six figure annual taxpayer salary.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Of Guns, Bullets and Bloodshed
It is, in my opinion, impossible to make sense out of the totally senseless madness of James Holmes. The crazies among us will always find a means to strike terror in the hearts of innocents, as their insane way to exorcise the demons making them so miserable that they seek to make every other person on the planet suffer pain, fear and grief. That said, can a Constitutional Republic, consistent with its values of individual freedom, including a personal right to bear arms, adopt sensible policies that might deter, or at least diminish the capacity of, lunatics from being able in less than two minutes to inflict hundreds of casualties? Is that national conversation worth having? I say yes, but fear that it will not be possible in a Presidential election year. Some sad irony there, indeed.
A few random reaction to how this national conversation commenced - ABC's Brian Ross was roundly criticized for failing to confirm the identity of Mr. Holmes before reporting that an individual of that same name was listed as a Colorado Tea Party member. So much so, that ABC News issued a formal apology for its unprofessional failure to gets its facts straight before going public. The far more egregious professional journalistic failure here was the belief that had Mr. Holmes been a Tea Partier, that voluntary association would in anyway have been relevant to his decision to engage in mass murder.
By way of analogy, ABC could have accurately told us that Holmes is a California born, unmarried male, college graduate and Ph.D candidate in neuroscience - thereby making all unmarried, studious adult men from California appropriate candidates to be interviewed by the FBI to determine whether they are likewise incipient homicidal maniacs. The worst kind of guilt by association by Brian Ross, who should be ashamed, but no one should call for his firing by ABC News, as these reminders of the depths to which the MSM will go to libel conservative Americans is useful knowledge, even if no one watches these channels anymore for that same reason.
So, no more sadness for one Post, life does go on, and tomorrow will be time enough to re-gather in this market place of ideas. Today, I'm with President Obama, Mitt Romney and all fair minded Americans -give your loved ones, as I will, a tighter hug.
A few random reaction to how this national conversation commenced - ABC's Brian Ross was roundly criticized for failing to confirm the identity of Mr. Holmes before reporting that an individual of that same name was listed as a Colorado Tea Party member. So much so, that ABC News issued a formal apology for its unprofessional failure to gets its facts straight before going public. The far more egregious professional journalistic failure here was the belief that had Mr. Holmes been a Tea Partier, that voluntary association would in anyway have been relevant to his decision to engage in mass murder.
By way of analogy, ABC could have accurately told us that Holmes is a California born, unmarried male, college graduate and Ph.D candidate in neuroscience - thereby making all unmarried, studious adult men from California appropriate candidates to be interviewed by the FBI to determine whether they are likewise incipient homicidal maniacs. The worst kind of guilt by association by Brian Ross, who should be ashamed, but no one should call for his firing by ABC News, as these reminders of the depths to which the MSM will go to libel conservative Americans is useful knowledge, even if no one watches these channels anymore for that same reason.
So, no more sadness for one Post, life does go on, and tomorrow will be time enough to re-gather in this market place of ideas. Today, I'm with President Obama, Mitt Romney and all fair minded Americans -give your loved ones, as I will, a tighter hug.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Happy 236th Birthday America
Writing this Post yesterday was a difficult task, as I was seeking to find words appropriately thoughful and thought provking to be worthy of honoring the sacrifices of the many, many generations of our Nation's patriots who made it possible for me to be free to pontificate as I please, without fear of retribution or government censorship.
Finding no eloquence in my quill yesterday, I instead turned to the words of a noted American orator, Daniel Webster, who spoke to a warring nation on July 4,1812:
"It is the power of every generation to make themselves, in some degree, partakers in the deeds, and in the fame of their ancestors, by adopting the principles, and studying their examples ... [thereby] the heart, as well as the understanding, feels the connection [and discover they are] ... part of the great chain of existence ... binding the present to the past, and even to the future. ... They cannot perish better than standing between their country and the embraces of a ferocious Tyranny, hated of man, and accursed of God."
Now most of us will not be called upon to literally take up arms to war against America's ememies, but we are all called upon to be active citizens, involved in the political process so as to defeat the domestic agents of tyranny. Accordingly, for us all, in striving to preserve this most Perfect Union, a Federal Republic - so long as we can keep it, we are challenged to marshall our full talents, energy and yes, eloquence, between now and the November elections. I do not care to whom you enlist your support, just as long as your participation embodies the framers' vision of America where every citizen is free to pursue his own vision of success and personal happiness based the merits of his own endeavors, work ethic and determination.
In keeping our polities' commitment to rugged individualism, and not Group Identity entitlements, we will remain connected to our Nation's glorious history and limitless future, where it can again be Morning in America.
Finding no eloquence in my quill yesterday, I instead turned to the words of a noted American orator, Daniel Webster, who spoke to a warring nation on July 4,1812:
"It is the power of every generation to make themselves, in some degree, partakers in the deeds, and in the fame of their ancestors, by adopting the principles, and studying their examples ... [thereby] the heart, as well as the understanding, feels the connection [and discover they are] ... part of the great chain of existence ... binding the present to the past, and even to the future. ... They cannot perish better than standing between their country and the embraces of a ferocious Tyranny, hated of man, and accursed of God."
Now most of us will not be called upon to literally take up arms to war against America's ememies, but we are all called upon to be active citizens, involved in the political process so as to defeat the domestic agents of tyranny. Accordingly, for us all, in striving to preserve this most Perfect Union, a Federal Republic - so long as we can keep it, we are challenged to marshall our full talents, energy and yes, eloquence, between now and the November elections. I do not care to whom you enlist your support, just as long as your participation embodies the framers' vision of America where every citizen is free to pursue his own vision of success and personal happiness based the merits of his own endeavors, work ethic and determination.
In keeping our polities' commitment to rugged individualism, and not Group Identity entitlements, we will remain connected to our Nation's glorious history and limitless future, where it can again be Morning in America.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
It's Not Morning in America Anymore
And yes, Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore either. Instead, we are in a State of Shock and Disbelief. About a month before the Supreme Court's decision upholding the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a University of Texas Law Professor wrote an opinion piece recommending that the Court acknowledge the constitutional invalidity of the insurance mandate (which is codified in a separate provision of the law), but simultaneously uphold the penalty for an individual's failure to obtain said health care insurance. I recall laughing out loud upon first reading this erudite scholar's seriously advanced proposal. I then concluded that the Republic was indeed safe, for now, and possibly for the foreseeable future, as the liberal elite had finally shown itself to be totally intellectually dishonorable, openly ignoring any need to adhere to the Rule of Law. I thought how utterly cynical - a tenured professor at a well respected Law School argues that a federal law should be construed to impose no legal duty or mandate to do something, and yet should a person not undertake such a voluntary, non-lawfully required act, he or she will be made subject to a collection action by the IRS for thousands of dollars in penalties. In short, I knew that no right thinking, rational person could envision a society in which engaging in lawful conduct is made subject to mandatory federal sanctions - such cognitive dissonance would have been rejected by George Orwell as too implausible for his novel "1984".
Well, guess what Elite Members Oceania 2 Point O has arrived in the former federalist Republic of the United States. Chief Justice John Roberts, to all plausible accounts, literally sucker punched the conservative wing of the Court by changing his vote after the several Justice's opinions, 5-4 majority and dissenter's, had already been written finding the ACA unconstitutional in its entirety. Mr. Roberts, without even acknowledging or giving credit to the Texas law genius, initially struck down the insurance mandate because in our Constitutional Republic with only enumerated powers given to the federal government, the Commerce Clause does not, and cannot, reach individual inactivity. That initial conclusion by Roberts constitutes the very foundation and essence of America's unique system of government - were the national government to hold unfettered police powers to legislate the full panoply of duties of its citizenry under the guise of regulating commerce, then the fifty states (or 57 should Obama be asked) would not be sovereign entities, alone charged with exercising authority to enact laws enhancing the general welfare. They would be merely administrative appendages of the national government, doing only what told to do from on high.
A limited national government of explicitly stated, enumerated powers was enshrined in the Constitution, and has remained inviolate for more than two hundred years, until Roberts brought back to life the insurance mandate as a tax, which legislative enactment was disclaimed by every Senator and Congressman who voted in favor of the ACA, as well as the President in signing the Bill.
What Roberts has accomplished is breathtakingly incompatible with same Constitutional principle he so ardently championed in explaining how the Commerce Clause can not go beyond the regulatory powers as envisioned by the Framers, in order to preserve and maintain our nation's two sovereigns, federal system of limited national government. What Law Judge, not experiencing total cognitive dissonance, would conclude that the Constitution forbids the insurance mandate - as such invalidity is crucial to the very essence of our governmental structure - but then declare that the Framers authorized that same mandate in another provision of the same Constitution.
As noted by the Court's four dissenters, Chief Justice Roberts' Tax power holding is a chimera, an illusion, a fantasy, a semantic construct of such utter arrogant cynicism that it must be characterized as " ... verbal wizardry too far, deep into the forbidden land of the sophists". Indeed, first in Texas, now in all of America: War is Peace, and everybody better love Big Brother, or the IRS will be knocking on your door.
Well, guess what Elite Members Oceania 2 Point O has arrived in the former federalist Republic of the United States. Chief Justice John Roberts, to all plausible accounts, literally sucker punched the conservative wing of the Court by changing his vote after the several Justice's opinions, 5-4 majority and dissenter's, had already been written finding the ACA unconstitutional in its entirety. Mr. Roberts, without even acknowledging or giving credit to the Texas law genius, initially struck down the insurance mandate because in our Constitutional Republic with only enumerated powers given to the federal government, the Commerce Clause does not, and cannot, reach individual inactivity. That initial conclusion by Roberts constitutes the very foundation and essence of America's unique system of government - were the national government to hold unfettered police powers to legislate the full panoply of duties of its citizenry under the guise of regulating commerce, then the fifty states (or 57 should Obama be asked) would not be sovereign entities, alone charged with exercising authority to enact laws enhancing the general welfare. They would be merely administrative appendages of the national government, doing only what told to do from on high.
A limited national government of explicitly stated, enumerated powers was enshrined in the Constitution, and has remained inviolate for more than two hundred years, until Roberts brought back to life the insurance mandate as a tax, which legislative enactment was disclaimed by every Senator and Congressman who voted in favor of the ACA, as well as the President in signing the Bill.
What Roberts has accomplished is breathtakingly incompatible with same Constitutional principle he so ardently championed in explaining how the Commerce Clause can not go beyond the regulatory powers as envisioned by the Framers, in order to preserve and maintain our nation's two sovereigns, federal system of limited national government. What Law Judge, not experiencing total cognitive dissonance, would conclude that the Constitution forbids the insurance mandate - as such invalidity is crucial to the very essence of our governmental structure - but then declare that the Framers authorized that same mandate in another provision of the same Constitution.
As noted by the Court's four dissenters, Chief Justice Roberts' Tax power holding is a chimera, an illusion, a fantasy, a semantic construct of such utter arrogant cynicism that it must be characterized as " ... verbal wizardry too far, deep into the forbidden land of the sophists". Indeed, first in Texas, now in all of America: War is Peace, and everybody better love Big Brother, or the IRS will be knocking on your door.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Why Brian Terry Still Matters, Now More Than Ever
Memorial day weekend is in full swing - Mom, hot dogs, apple pie and baseball, the unofficial start of Summer, with hopefully, time for some small rememberances of those who died willingly for our precious way of life - Free, because these men and women were so brave,
In times past, it seems that Memorial Day focused on the sacrifices of the Nation's Greatest Generation - our World War II Veterans, who had died in that most horrific of conflagrations, defeating both the Nazi Axis and the Empire of Japan simultaneously.
Accordingly, today I wish to honor a fallen hero, from a different era of mortal combat, one in which the Nation's survival is in no less in jeopardy, Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. Brian is that most rare of America's dead War Heroes - ignored by his Commander-in-Chief, the President of the United States, and almost scorned by the Nation's top law enforcement officer, the Attorney General of the United States. The reasons for this despicable mistreatment of Brian Terry are well known to few Americans, so let me briefly retell how he was gunned down defending our southern border from the ongoing tidal wave of invaders - drug smugglers, human slave traffickers and terrorists bent on our destruction.
In short, Brian Terry was murdered by a drug cartel soldier using an AK-47 freely given to his Drug Masters by the Department of Justice, in furtherance of a so-called sting operation, Fast & Furious. With approval of top DOJ officials, the ATF Office in Arizona facilitated the "strawman" purchase of thousands of automatic weapons from legitimate gun shops near the Mexican border, knowing that these buyers were working for the Mexican Cartels and would immediately deliver these weapons to their criminal bosses across the border.
As a result of this federal government criminal conspiracy to engage in "gun walking", hundreds of Mexicans have been murdered by these walked weapons and Brian Terry's family lives every single day knowing that the US government is an accessory in his willful murder. Attorney General Holder refuses to condemn Operation Fast & Furious, saying only that it had flawed tactics, but that the scourge of Mexican drug violence demands "out-of-the-box" thinking to curb this deadly onslaught.
What an insult to Brian Terry, his family and to us, the American people - with no tracking devices inplanted in these walked weapons, with no surveillance of their movement across the Mexican border and no notifications made to the Mexican government as to the US government allowing thousands of automatic weapons to flow umimpeded into the hands of Mexican drug cartels, F&F worked exactly as its was intended to - cause thousands of illegal American bought weapons to show up at mostly Mexican crime scenes. Too bad, about Brian Terry being murdered with a F&F walked gun just north of the border. Oh well, the President, the Attorney General and the Main Stream Media can all today celebrate Memorial Day by enjoying hot dogs, apple pie, baseball and calls home to Mom.
Of course, Mrs. Terry will not be doing any of those joyful things today, most especially not getting a loving holiday call from her fallen war hero son, Brian Terry. Makes me want to cry.
In times past, it seems that Memorial Day focused on the sacrifices of the Nation's Greatest Generation - our World War II Veterans, who had died in that most horrific of conflagrations, defeating both the Nazi Axis and the Empire of Japan simultaneously.
Accordingly, today I wish to honor a fallen hero, from a different era of mortal combat, one in which the Nation's survival is in no less in jeopardy, Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. Brian is that most rare of America's dead War Heroes - ignored by his Commander-in-Chief, the President of the United States, and almost scorned by the Nation's top law enforcement officer, the Attorney General of the United States. The reasons for this despicable mistreatment of Brian Terry are well known to few Americans, so let me briefly retell how he was gunned down defending our southern border from the ongoing tidal wave of invaders - drug smugglers, human slave traffickers and terrorists bent on our destruction.
In short, Brian Terry was murdered by a drug cartel soldier using an AK-47 freely given to his Drug Masters by the Department of Justice, in furtherance of a so-called sting operation, Fast & Furious. With approval of top DOJ officials, the ATF Office in Arizona facilitated the "strawman" purchase of thousands of automatic weapons from legitimate gun shops near the Mexican border, knowing that these buyers were working for the Mexican Cartels and would immediately deliver these weapons to their criminal bosses across the border.
As a result of this federal government criminal conspiracy to engage in "gun walking", hundreds of Mexicans have been murdered by these walked weapons and Brian Terry's family lives every single day knowing that the US government is an accessory in his willful murder. Attorney General Holder refuses to condemn Operation Fast & Furious, saying only that it had flawed tactics, but that the scourge of Mexican drug violence demands "out-of-the-box" thinking to curb this deadly onslaught.
What an insult to Brian Terry, his family and to us, the American people - with no tracking devices inplanted in these walked weapons, with no surveillance of their movement across the Mexican border and no notifications made to the Mexican government as to the US government allowing thousands of automatic weapons to flow umimpeded into the hands of Mexican drug cartels, F&F worked exactly as its was intended to - cause thousands of illegal American bought weapons to show up at mostly Mexican crime scenes. Too bad, about Brian Terry being murdered with a F&F walked gun just north of the border. Oh well, the President, the Attorney General and the Main Stream Media can all today celebrate Memorial Day by enjoying hot dogs, apple pie, baseball and calls home to Mom.
Of course, Mrs. Terry will not be doing any of those joyful things today, most especially not getting a loving holiday call from her fallen war hero son, Brian Terry. Makes me want to cry.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Elizabeth Warren, Part Deux
Last week for a change, I tuned into Fox News to catch up on the Lizzy Warren indian escapades. Fomer Governor Dean campaign director, Joe Trippy, was being interviewd by Steve Duccie, during which conversation, Mr. Trippy castigated the Warren campaign staff for its apparent unpreparedness to address the candidate's claim to the birthright of a Native American. At first blush, Mr. Trippy's insight seemed to really hit the bulls-eye, so I decided to reflect on what a competent campaign would have said in response to media inquiries about this Warren Claim. This strategic evaluation gave rise to the Top Ten Reasons Ms. Warren called herself an American Indian:
1) There was no Cherokee law against it.
2) She is a First Amendment Absolutetist.
3) She thought she was putting down Indiana as her home state.
4) She hates Indians, so she didn't want any of them to get a job.
5) She loves Indians, so she knew they would take pride in her accomplishments.
6) She is an irrational liar.
7) She is a rational liar.
8) Hey, you never know, so it could be true.
9) Hey, isn't everyone from Oklahoma a half breed?
And the Number One reasons Elizabeth Warren called herself an AI -
Personal integrity is so old school.
1) There was no Cherokee law against it.
2) She is a First Amendment Absolutetist.
3) She thought she was putting down Indiana as her home state.
4) She hates Indians, so she didn't want any of them to get a job.
5) She loves Indians, so she knew they would take pride in her accomplishments.
6) She is an irrational liar.
7) She is a rational liar.
8) Hey, you never know, so it could be true.
9) Hey, isn't everyone from Oklahoma a half breed?
And the Number One reasons Elizabeth Warren called herself an AI -
Personal integrity is so old school.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Why Elizabeth Warren Doesn't Matter
Elizabeth Warren must think all voters of Massachusetts are stupid, Well, we shall see in November. Ms. Warren claims to be a Native-American for two reasons: her family all have high cheek bones and in her family "lore" (shared around the campfire when Liz was a small papoose) she was repeatedly told of the participation of her ancestors in raiding parties that took dozens of white scalps in the 1890's throughout the Oklahoma territory. Hyperbole? Probably, but one never knows when tribe elders get their fill of firewater!
Now, the Warren Senate campaign is in full stampede seeking to explain the reason for Liz's assertion of an American Indian birthright. They told the Media that Ms. Warren so informed Harvard Law School of this minority status in order to enlarge the number of invitations to luncheons. Seriously, no hyperbole.
I guess the Harvard elite wanted to hear Liz's hair-raising tales of sudden hair lose in living women and children. All humor aside, obviously Ms. Warren speaks with a fork tongue, exploiting the most abused minority in American history for career advancement, or in her words, for a conversation starter at free lunches. (I say this because slaves were often well treated to increase work productivity, while Indians were only killed).
Obviously, Elizabeth Warren needs to apologize to Native Americans, indeed all Americans for this egregious lack of integrity. (See, President Obama can serve as a role model in certain situations.) Then, Ms Warren needs to fully fund a collegiate scholarship for real Native Americans, preferably at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. This option is available immediately, as the offer of such a scholarship has been awaiting funding since my freshman year at this liberal arts school in April of 1968. Should Liz choose to do so, I will be morally bound to contribute to the Fund as well. My sense is that Liz has no real chance of being elected a US. Senator, and I have less of one to be writing a Scholarship check on her behalf.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Why Brian Terry Still Matters
Regrettably, U.S. Border Patrol Agent, Brian Terry is dead, while his murderers, and those in the Department of Justice who provided the gun to his killers, are still at large, indeed living large. To hit the Reset Button, I asked in a Post, dated June 15, 2011: "When a Good Man Dies Needlessly, Who Cares?" After the White House Correspondent's Dinner this past weekend, the unequivocal answer is obvious - No one in Washington, D.C. As stated on June 15th, Brian Terry is an American Hero, who died defending our country from foreign invaders, seeking to do us all great harm - drug smugglers bringing in crack cocaine guaranteed to spread crime, poverty and despair throughout our population's most vulnerable poor communities, and risking death to those in the entertainment industry who chose to indulge their habitual weaknesses. Operation Fast & Furious - DOJ allowing illegal guns to "walk" into Mexico to arm the drug cartels - is the most bloody scandal in US Presidential history - over 200 dead Mexicans and two US law enforcement officers. Still, no Presidential apology to the Nation of Mexico.
Instead, we get this "Joke" from Jimmy Kimmel speaking directly to the President at the Correspondent's Dinner: "Even some of your fellow democrats think you're a pushover, Mr. President. They think you should stick to your guns. And if you don't have any guns, they would like you to ask Eric Holder to get you some." So hilarious, Mr. Obama laughed out loud. Can you envision Ronald Reagan, John Kennedy, Harry Truman or even Lyndon Johnson giggling about such a preventable tragedy, particularly one for which Mr. Obama's Attorney General is directly responsible. I can't; as stated on June 15th, they would have had those in their Administration responsible fired the same day they were informed of Brian Terry's death. Instead, we get that Mr. Obama is willing to apologize only for the perceived misdeeds of President Bush, while his own are the subject of probably the worst joke in Correspondent's Dinner History. Not a good showing by the Fourth Estate, who faked laughs along with him.
Instead, we get this "Joke" from Jimmy Kimmel speaking directly to the President at the Correspondent's Dinner: "Even some of your fellow democrats think you're a pushover, Mr. President. They think you should stick to your guns. And if you don't have any guns, they would like you to ask Eric Holder to get you some." So hilarious, Mr. Obama laughed out loud. Can you envision Ronald Reagan, John Kennedy, Harry Truman or even Lyndon Johnson giggling about such a preventable tragedy, particularly one for which Mr. Obama's Attorney General is directly responsible. I can't; as stated on June 15th, they would have had those in their Administration responsible fired the same day they were informed of Brian Terry's death. Instead, we get that Mr. Obama is willing to apologize only for the perceived misdeeds of President Bush, while his own are the subject of probably the worst joke in Correspondent's Dinner History. Not a good showing by the Fourth Estate, who faked laughs along with him.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Why Leonid Brezhnev Still Matters
As all wisdom in the former Soviet Union resided in the Communist Party Central Committee - managing every facet of inhumane life across the eleven time zones of this vast Empire from inside the crumbling Kremlin walls - Party Chair Leonid Brezhnev was one powerful top dog. From the wheat harvest quota in the Ukraine every five years, to the number of shoes manufactured in Kiev annually and to the length of women skirts nationally, no economic activity escaped the purview of the Dictatorship's central planners. So then, how did all this government, all the time, everywhere work for the 200 plus million serfs? Well, not so well actually - millions died of starvation, while the rest of the Empire's population suffered through the shortest life expectancy of any western nation, largely due to rampant alcoholism, social dependency and shameful loss of individual dignity.
Of course, President Obama is no Leonid- lite. He doesn't think that only the Executive Office of the President should set the interest rate on every single student loan in America. Oops, yes he does. He doesn't think only the Executive Office of the President should decide what barnyard chores parents can allow their children to perform on every single family farm in America. Oops, yes he does. He doesn't think that only the Executive Office of the President should decide what health insurance coverage should apply to every single private business (including free contraception and abortion pills for every single church employee) in America. Oops, yes he does.
Oh, did I mention that all the central planners in the Executive Office of the President work in Washington, DC, a separate time/space reality than all of us in the "real" world of business budgets, limited by actual cash flow, and debts that must really be paid. Two examples of DC-mania - no local police could ever dare try to pull off the Secret Service trick of Guys and Paid Dolls. To find government employees who feel no accountability to anyone, you need to issue them a federal credit card w/. no credit limit, a free plane ticket and a free week in Cartehegna, Columbia to get what America got last week. Oh, did I mention that the unanimous response from the DC Establishment - Executive, Congress, Media - is that the Secret Service training programs may need to be tightened up a bit. Are these inside the Beltway dolts serious? The Secret Service agent who disgraced our Nation in Cartehegna, Columbia, who is unaware of this conduct's total unacceptability, does not exist. Yet, the central Powers-that-Be either are so removed from reality that they don't know this obvious truth, or they think that we Americans are just too stupid to know this truth.
Well Leonid-wanta be's in DC - We are not Stupid. So, let me ask this - Do any of us wise Americans think it is a good idea to transfer more and more power to the DC Overseers, who just gave us the GSA Gone Wild in Vegas and Secret Service Gone Wild in Columbia? I don't; so give me back my personal health care responsibilities, while you'se guys clean up that cesspool of excess in DC.
Of course, President Obama is no Leonid- lite. He doesn't think that only the Executive Office of the President should set the interest rate on every single student loan in America. Oops, yes he does. He doesn't think only the Executive Office of the President should decide what barnyard chores parents can allow their children to perform on every single family farm in America. Oops, yes he does. He doesn't think that only the Executive Office of the President should decide what health insurance coverage should apply to every single private business (including free contraception and abortion pills for every single church employee) in America. Oops, yes he does.
Oh, did I mention that all the central planners in the Executive Office of the President work in Washington, DC, a separate time/space reality than all of us in the "real" world of business budgets, limited by actual cash flow, and debts that must really be paid. Two examples of DC-mania - no local police could ever dare try to pull off the Secret Service trick of Guys and Paid Dolls. To find government employees who feel no accountability to anyone, you need to issue them a federal credit card w/. no credit limit, a free plane ticket and a free week in Cartehegna, Columbia to get what America got last week. Oh, did I mention that the unanimous response from the DC Establishment - Executive, Congress, Media - is that the Secret Service training programs may need to be tightened up a bit. Are these inside the Beltway dolts serious? The Secret Service agent who disgraced our Nation in Cartehegna, Columbia, who is unaware of this conduct's total unacceptability, does not exist. Yet, the central Powers-that-Be either are so removed from reality that they don't know this obvious truth, or they think that we Americans are just too stupid to know this truth.
Well Leonid-wanta be's in DC - We are not Stupid. So, let me ask this - Do any of us wise Americans think it is a good idea to transfer more and more power to the DC Overseers, who just gave us the GSA Gone Wild in Vegas and Secret Service Gone Wild in Columbia? I don't; so give me back my personal health care responsibilities, while you'se guys clean up that cesspool of excess in DC.
Friday, April 6, 2012
The President's Rhetoric - "Unprecedented"
Well, Elite Members, paraphrasing Ronald Reagan: here I go again. Yes, I have another bone to pick with the current occupant of the White House. Surely, some out there in Blogsville will say enuff with the hypercritical bombast, Mr. Random Thoughts, as we already know how disdainful and disrespectful U are toward the President. Ok, then; I will not engage in any such ad hominem proselytizing. Instead, I will let Barrack Hussien Obama speak for himself:
I'd just remind conservatives that for years what we have heard is the biggest problem
on the bench was judicial activism or a lack of judicial restraint - that AN UNELECTED
GROUP OF PEOPLE would somehow overturn the duly constittued ...
Now, most of the controversy in the media'a pushback on this week's Presidential Rose Garden Statement has been on the question of wherther or not Obama truly doesn't understand the separation powers mandating judicial review of Congressional enactments when challenged by litigants as being unconstitutional. He does. So, let's focus instead on what is unprecedented in Mr. Obama's "calling out" the Supreme Court as a bunch of "unelected people". That dismissive mischaracterization by the President constitutes a not so veiled attack on the very legitimacy of the Supreme Court's constitutional stature in our Republic of three co-equal branches of government. By undermining the very integrity of the high court, Mr. Obama has threatened the Rule of Law, the very foundation of our nation's exceptionalism.
I remember more than once growing up and hearing of some very unpopular Supreme Court ruling, followed by the President, most often Ike, (example - ban on school prayers) saying that while he disagreed with the decision, it was now everyone's solemn obligation to respect and obey the final word as laid out by the Supreme Court. This week, instead, we get a President, so disrespectful of the Court and its crucial role in our system of checks and balances that he declares them to be like a group of no buddies from down the block just hanging out waiting to mug some young girl trying to enter a Planned Parenthood Office to get her free contraceptives. And for a sitting President to rip the Supreme Court as not properly constituted or empowered to invalidate a federal statute while the appeal is still pending is truly UNPRECEDENTED in our nation's history. Some classy guy there.
I'd just remind conservatives that for years what we have heard is the biggest problem
on the bench was judicial activism or a lack of judicial restraint - that AN UNELECTED
GROUP OF PEOPLE would somehow overturn the duly constittued ...
Now, most of the controversy in the media'a pushback on this week's Presidential Rose Garden Statement has been on the question of wherther or not Obama truly doesn't understand the separation powers mandating judicial review of Congressional enactments when challenged by litigants as being unconstitutional. He does. So, let's focus instead on what is unprecedented in Mr. Obama's "calling out" the Supreme Court as a bunch of "unelected people". That dismissive mischaracterization by the President constitutes a not so veiled attack on the very legitimacy of the Supreme Court's constitutional stature in our Republic of three co-equal branches of government. By undermining the very integrity of the high court, Mr. Obama has threatened the Rule of Law, the very foundation of our nation's exceptionalism.
I remember more than once growing up and hearing of some very unpopular Supreme Court ruling, followed by the President, most often Ike, (example - ban on school prayers) saying that while he disagreed with the decision, it was now everyone's solemn obligation to respect and obey the final word as laid out by the Supreme Court. This week, instead, we get a President, so disrespectful of the Court and its crucial role in our system of checks and balances that he declares them to be like a group of no buddies from down the block just hanging out waiting to mug some young girl trying to enter a Planned Parenthood Office to get her free contraceptives. And for a sitting President to rip the Supreme Court as not properly constituted or empowered to invalidate a federal statute while the appeal is still pending is truly UNPRECEDENTED in our nation's history. Some classy guy there.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
President Obama's Dreams from his Father
The Main Stream Media never deviates from the story line that President Obama is a liberal democrat who believes in "American Exceptionalism"; well, in a Greek sort of way at least. You, however, loyal Elite Members know well that I do not share this belief that the President does not want to fundamentally transform the American experience - from rugged individualism to a European-style social welfare state in which the central government provides all life's necessities.
Why you ask do I believe that the President seeks an American future of collective group benefits replacing our present merit system - risk reward with full accountability for business failure. Easy question, so an easy answer. First, just read Mr. Obama's autobiography "Dreams from My Father". The President explicitly acknowledges his world view comes from his anti-colonial, anti-capitalism Dad. Oh, you retort, that old opus was written decades ago by Bill Ayers, so it surely doesn't reflect Obama's current views on the proper relationship of government to the nation's citizenry.
Well, guess again; in the President's Saturday Radio Address, aired this morning, he explicitly stated that the federal government know best: "In America, our story has never been about what we can do by ourselves; its about what we can do together" And by "do together" (now trust me on this) the President does not mean voluntary associations like the Catholic Church or the Federalist Society. Instead, in this address to the Nation, the President's call for collective greatness was the preamble for demanding Americans pay higher taxes so the government can create more jobs. Sorry MSM, that world view is European welfare state - it is not the American story. End of Story, end of freedom, end of capitalists creating untold new wealth thru individual merit - good-bye Bill Gates and sleep well Apple stockholders, we will never come by this way again.
Why you ask do I believe that the President seeks an American future of collective group benefits replacing our present merit system - risk reward with full accountability for business failure. Easy question, so an easy answer. First, just read Mr. Obama's autobiography "Dreams from My Father". The President explicitly acknowledges his world view comes from his anti-colonial, anti-capitalism Dad. Oh, you retort, that old opus was written decades ago by Bill Ayers, so it surely doesn't reflect Obama's current views on the proper relationship of government to the nation's citizenry.
Well, guess again; in the President's Saturday Radio Address, aired this morning, he explicitly stated that the federal government know best: "In America, our story has never been about what we can do by ourselves; its about what we can do together" And by "do together" (now trust me on this) the President does not mean voluntary associations like the Catholic Church or the Federalist Society. Instead, in this address to the Nation, the President's call for collective greatness was the preamble for demanding Americans pay higher taxes so the government can create more jobs. Sorry MSM, that world view is European welfare state - it is not the American story. End of Story, end of freedom, end of capitalists creating untold new wealth thru individual merit - good-bye Bill Gates and sleep well Apple stockholders, we will never come by this way again.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Now that Obamacare is Toast ...
... we as Americans all can take pride in the successful workings of the judicial branch; the Republic is saved from oppression, at last. Accordingly, being safe from fiscal insanity, we now view the nation's posture in the War on Terror - not nearly so sanguine. Why you ask? Because U.S. Army Major Hassan murdered in cold blood 13 fellow American soldiers, and seriously wounded 37 other U.S. military service men and women on November 5, 2009; that Day of Infamy will be turning the calendar to 880 days and counting on April 5, 2012. Over this almost two and one-half year period of inactivity in the judiciary, with the explicit approval of the Obama Administration, Major Hassan has been paid his full Army salary - in all probability more than $200,000.00.
In stark contrast, the Major's victims, other than those deceased, declared unfit to return to active duty due to permanent shooting wounds have been "separated" from military service and told: "have a nice life, hope you qualify for disability when you find a VA office." This is a National Disgrace. All of the Obama Administration's attention has been focused on everything else but getting justice for the Fort Hood victims. Rest assured, until tried and convicted, I am not advocating Hassan be executed; for all I know he is legally insane and thus appropriately sentenced to a mental hospital, getting free room and board for life, sans his tax payer paid active duty salary.
Why you ask has Hassan not been given his day in Court for going on three years time? So much for upholding the Constitutional right to a speedy trial. Why indeed, isn't there at least one political leader in America willing to demand that the Army do its duty and hold Hassan trial NOW? Indisputably, President Obama (rather than telling Russia's Medeved about America's post election flopping on its back, so the real loving will begin in earnest) could stop this madness tomorrow - just transfer the case to AG Holder for immediate civil court disposition.
This endless limbo is simply intolerable - I just can't imagine how this injustice doesn't send the victim's families into a homicidal rage, and the rest of us to the ballot box to elect an Administration that has the courage and/or competence to at least get one murdering terrorist to trial during its four year term in office - so far, not even one and done at the bar of justice for Obama.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
March Madness coupled with Fiscal Madness
Oh, the insanity, the insanity - the hated Dukies losing big time to the little engineers who could, the Lehigh Mt. Hawks. Now, should President Obama get his way with more of your tax dollars spent on "green" energy projects, there will be many fewer Mt. Hawks, Golden Eagles and all other magnificent predators skywards soon. The bloody little secret rarely mentioned in the MSM is that Wind Turbines kill hundreds of thousands of birds each year in this country alone. I am reliably informed that the noise alone from these mass killings - tearing, ripping sounds coupled with screams of pain finally culminated with the horrific sounds of bones shattering in thousands of pieces - I complete fabricated this scenario of this true slaughter as some day I do hope to be hired by the NY Times, and hey it could be true.
Anyway, my larger point here is that March madness has only been exceeded by Washington DC fiscal insanity. In all the positive media coverage of the seemingly again growing economy, not a single story explaining that this short term recovery has been purchased by the feds selling our very future solvency and prosperity to the ChiComs, Saudis and other unfriendly unworthies.
Hey, I got in a bad way with my own personal finances some years ago - borrowed everything I could get on my many credit cards. With tens of thousands owed (at outrageous interest), for a very short period of time, I seemed to be rich and solvent again - complete illusion, as the credit cards all had to be paid in full eventually. It will not be different for America, and I never have wanted to Live in Greece, Spain or Portugal. So, I beg us all - stop this madness now.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Andrew Breitbart,R.I.P
Writing Obs. has never been a goal of mine, yet this morning I feel compelled as a matter
of the high responsibility of a citizen of this Constitutional Republic to write as well, if not better, than ever before to give due honor to the all too short life of Andrew Breitbart. Andrew lived as an involved citizen should - in the belief that the life and very soul of this once great nation depended upon his efforts to defeat radical leftist "stateists". Andrew had absolutely no pretentiousness or other affectations of self importance, in his certain knowledge and conviction that only his clarion calls to citizen action were important, while himself, not so much. Andrew's most recent book, a national best seller (and unreviewed in the NY Times, I'm sure) is titled: "Righteous Indignation; Pardon Me while I Save the World". Clearly, my kinda guy, who I'm sure was a North Jersey native that only thru a tear in the Space/Time continuum got transplanted to LA and Brentwood of all places - laid back and cool, no; in your face and combative, yes, 24/7.
Andrew died Thursday morning at age 43, leaving a wife, four young children and a nation to grieve, but laugh; to mourn, but smile; to cry even, while foreswearing all emotions except one - a renewed conviction that, as Andrew never slept, never tired, never wavered from his vision of restoring America's fundamental freedoms, all of us must be more articulate citizens, more involved in the public debate in the free marketplace of ideas.
One (very loud and joyous) voice has been silenced forever, so I am now more committed than ever to convincing more citizens to join the fray - my vision of America remains true to principles of our Founding Fathers' core values in which rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are maximized when individual prerogative to follow one's own destiny is not thwarted by excessive governmental dictates as to what's perceived to be best for all citizens from the warped perspective of bureaucrats inside the DC Beltway. As Andrew told us all - in 21st Century America, you can have "free" contraceptives and abortions, but not freedom then from the government control of all facets of our lives, even into every bedroom in America. Only time and citizens mobilized will decide whether we get to live in Andrew's vision or not. As he will no longer be able to help shape these contours of American freedom, we must all do more, so that Andrew Breitbart will not have lived in vain. God bless America, and Andy's family.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Its not Half Time, It is Game Over
Yes, loyal Elite Members, it is actually morning in America, indeed its Sunday morning for another two and one-half hours yet. Still no time for preaching a Sermon, or homily even.
Just a few quick sliders, straight shots down the middle if you will, as painting and moving furniture awaits this one mortgage and one rent payment guy a month. (Remember we still accept PayPal). WildCats lost big time yesterday to the Shockers of Wichita State University; nonetheless, want to express my appreciation to everyone for watching the game on ESPN, as I am sure u all did so.
Also buried yesterday was Ms. Houston, with all NJ state flags flown at half-mast in her honor. Strange decision by "the Insultinator". Not intending to break my pledge of never bad mouthing the dead, I will make only the general observation, that i believe the Rule of Law is undermined when entertainers always get rehab, while common folk in Texas get 20 to life for almost identical drug law crimes.
Along those same lines of condemning wrong headed disparate treatment, right now, NYC is paying criminals big bucks to hand over illegal guns at "Immunity Stores". Simultaneously, the City has indicted a former US marine who traveled to New York in furtherance of his jewelry business, carrying $15,000.00 in jewels along with his legal, registered hand gun. When he asked security at the Empire State building if he could check his pistol before visiting the roof viewing site, he was promptly arrested, and is now facing a 3 year prison term. A man willing to give his life to his country is paid back by government in this outrageous affront to the Rule of Law, while actual criminals return home to their own beds hundreds of dollars richer. Hey, i better stop before this does turn into a Sermon on the evils of government power over individuals doing everything the right way. Cheers
Sunday, February 12, 2012
It's not Half Time in America, It's Game Over
With this Dictator, say good-bye to both Morning and Freedom in America. Here's what he said last week about his values, principles and core conviction that he needs to wield absolute power -
"Under this Rule [unassailable, immutable and permanent federal mandate] women will still have access to free preventive care ... no matter where they work. So that core principle remains - the insurance company will be required to reach out and offer women contraceptive care free of charge" President Obama, 2/10/12; Announcement of his "accommodation" with the First, Fifth and Tenth Amendments of United States Constitution.
Actually, it is time to start the mourning, to grieve for the once great Republic in which all persons were secure in the certain knowledge that no government official could seize personal property, in this case the assets of the owners of Insurance companies, and by the stroke of a pen, give those same assets to another person, in this case to working women to pay for their "free" medical care. This arrogation of power would make Eva Peron proud. Yet, while this debacle has caused a "fire storm" of outrage in the Catholic Church's hierarchy, nary a word spoken in defiance of this nullification of the Constitution's guarantee of no deprivation of private property without due process of law and full compensation. I grew up in a time, when every American was told - by church, by schools, by parents, by government officials - that "there is no such thing as a free lunch", teaching us all that to receive something of value, a person must get it the old fashion way - "earn it".
Yet today, the President of the United States declares to little or no uproar, that free medical care is every women's innate, god-given right, at birth, or at least at the time of the government's authorized abortion. Of course, he didn't state in last week's address to the nation that every women's right to free medical care is a Constitutional Right, because even he knows that socialized medicine is not enshrined in our Nation's fundamental guarantor of person rights. So instead, the President for Now simply declared that taking Insurance companies money and giving it to working women is legal because doing so is consistent with his own core principles.
That breathtaking stance is fully consistent with my definition of a Dictator for Life. In response, I declare that my faith in the Constitution is unassailable, immutable and permanent; thus, in my Constitutional Republic when a government official take anyone's assets, because that official believes that others are more deserving of getting those assets for free, I say that it is right time to send that official off into the sunset of permanent retirement. Just saying ...
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Joe 'Pa' Paterno R.I.P.
Coach Paterno's fall from grace was so sudden, so complete, so far, and apparently so self-inflicted that the pain at times was almost unbearable. After the debacle at Ohio State, I had commented to friends and family alike that my loyalties in college football were reduced to Columbia University and Penn State University, as the last two programs I could support as having the requisite integrity to truly run "clean" programs. So disillusioned was I that I watched nary a single college football game this Fall. My thoughts today are both sadness and relief, because the pain I felt vicariously for the Paterno family and for the probably dozens of abuse children had to be nothing compared to the hurt, regret, shame and destroyed childhoods that all directly involved felt and will suffer the rest of their lives.
In my view, Joe Paterno was a good man, and in some respects a great man. Even were those not to be my opinions, I would not tell you otherwise now, pursuant to my strong belief that to speak ill of the departed is in poor taste at best and cowardly at worst. What I will share with you is my conclusion that Coach Paterno was not just corrupted by power, indeed, he was fatally corrupted by having absolute power in Happy Valley. When any employee holds a press conference to tell the entire world that he, and he alone, will decide when to retire - as only he knows what's best for his employer - that person has become unaccountable to everyone and everything but his own conscience. As Lord Acton proclaimed so astutely more than 200 years ago: "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
When excessive power ruins the life of a once great and moral man, I fear and distrust all others, certainly of lesser stature, holding high political office, as they are not nearly as worthy as Joe Paterno. Yet despite his many virtues, Joe Paterno's vainglorious administration of the Penn State football program ruined too many innocent lives, and I am convinced shortened his own. What a needless shame, as well as a life lesson on bestowing ever more power to the Office of the President - be it Barry Obama or god forbid Newt Gingrich.
In my view, Joe Paterno was a good man, and in some respects a great man. Even were those not to be my opinions, I would not tell you otherwise now, pursuant to my strong belief that to speak ill of the departed is in poor taste at best and cowardly at worst. What I will share with you is my conclusion that Coach Paterno was not just corrupted by power, indeed, he was fatally corrupted by having absolute power in Happy Valley. When any employee holds a press conference to tell the entire world that he, and he alone, will decide when to retire - as only he knows what's best for his employer - that person has become unaccountable to everyone and everything but his own conscience. As Lord Acton proclaimed so astutely more than 200 years ago: "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
When excessive power ruins the life of a once great and moral man, I fear and distrust all others, certainly of lesser stature, holding high political office, as they are not nearly as worthy as Joe Paterno. Yet despite his many virtues, Joe Paterno's vainglorious administration of the Penn State football program ruined too many innocent lives, and I am convinced shortened his own. What a needless shame, as well as a life lesson on bestowing ever more power to the Office of the President - be it Barry Obama or god forbid Newt Gingrich.